Author's Note:
First off thank you everyone who reviewed Really made my day. Really happy that you all liked my take on Ino! Also, I apologize for the abrupt ending to that chapter, it was my first time writing a fanfic and was unsure how long was too long. I'll make sure to make the rest of the chapters end nicer.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or locations in this story.

_xXXXXx_

The sun colored the sky a brilliant orange by the time Ino made it back to TheYamanaka Flower Shop. She was still letting the news of Sakura's engagement to Sasuke sink in when she noticed the two figures waiting for her inside.

"INO! There you are. We've been looking all over for you! I missed lunch. LUNCH!" whined a forlorn looking Choji Akimichi.
"I told you she'd come back here eventually didn't I? You're the one who insisted we look for her Choji. Eh what a drag." sighed Shikamaru Nara, he then noticed the scroll in Ino's right hand and his eyes narrowed seriously, "So.. how you holding up?"

Ino blinked at his question, she knew exactly what he meant and that made it very clear why they were here waiting for her. In all honesty the gesture was sweet- they were worried about her ofcourse. With the news of the engagement they assumed Ino would've been heartbroken so they came to check up on her. She really shouldn't be surprised… the Nara and Akimichi clans were always close to the Yamanakas; they shared a bond that went back generations but still she hated how pathetic she must have looked to them. Despite their good intentions, she felt her anger flare. What did they expect that she'd be bawling her eyes out? Or worse that she'd go and do something stupid.

"I'm fine. Heh, why wouldn't I be?" Ino huffed as she flipped back her hair.

"Uh.." Choji exchanged a quick look with Shikamaru and gave a nervous grin, and added while tugging on the leaves of a potted plant "right well I'm starving you got anything to eat?"

"This is a flower shop Choji not a restaurant!" The blonde rolled her eyes, "come on, let's get you something before you start eating the plants."

"I'm not even hun-" Shikamaru stopped and changed his answer midway when Choji shot him a grim glare, he sighed and followed his team mates with a shrug "..fine. I'm going too. What a drag."

_xXXXXx_

While Choji stuffed his face with barbeque and went on and on about how good it was, Shikamaru and Ino shared an awkward silence.

"You know you shouldn't keep it all bottled up Ino." Shikamaru finally commented under his breath.

"What are you talking about Shika?" Ino hissed quietly.

"Would you quit it? We know you. I know you. This..isn't you. You're too quiet. I know you're upset. Just let it out so we can get it over with." The black haired Jonin looked at her seriously.

In the background Choji ordered seconds, but Ino knew he was listening too. When she lifted her eyes to Shikamaru's she knew he wasn't backing off. They were going to keep hounding her for who knows how long until she talked. It was frustrating. She wasn't a child. Not that it stopped her from acting like one. She slapped her hand on the table and squeezed her eyes shut.

"What do you want me to say then? Sakura won I lost. Naruto loved Sakura. Lee loved Sakura. Sasuke loves Sakura. Everyone loves Sakura. Whoop de doo. You happy?" she said through gritted teeth, "I just- urgh. I am not in the mood for a lecture now ok. Just let me be."

Choji quickly started gulping down water so he wouldn't have to speak.

Shikamaru just shook his head and chuckled.
"Oh so now it's funny?" Ino was getting ready to smash her fist into his face at this point.
"Man.. it's just. You women are so weird. I thought you'd be sad at your precious Sasuke being married and here you go ranting about Sakura. If I didn't know any better I'd think you're in love with her." Shikamaru shook his head again and added while laughing "now that would be an interesting thought."
Choji had a violent fit of coughs as he tried to laugh and swallow at the same time.

Ino just grabbed the back of Shikamaru's head and slammed his face on the table.

"For a genius you're a real IDIOT Shika!" She screamed, more because of how ridiculous his notion was rather than actual anger. He always knew how to get her riled up.

Shikamaru rubbed his nose, and watched Ino's features soften. She was acting more like herself and his face was collateral damage of the process- what a drag he thought. He looked over at Choji who also seemed relieved at the turn of events and was now shifting his full attention to his food. He grinned at her sheepishly and sighed.

"Ino.." Shikamaru spoke so softly that if she wasn't right next to him she wouldn't have caught the words, "it's..not true you know… I mean what you said earlier."
"Hn..?" Ino looked at Shikamaru who now was turning pink around the ears, what was he talking about?

"Not everyone was in love with Sakura… I ... I mean she's nice and all …but never saw her that way.." His face went pinker as he scrunched up his face and then looked out the window at the darkening sky.

"I liked you once you know. Long ago. Way back, we were just kids. You only had eyes for Sasuke though…" Shikamaru muttered as Ino's eyes went wide, "ehh don't look at me like that. Like I said it was really long ago. Don't worry about it."

"Shika I never…I… " Ino was at a loss for words.

"Hey don't .. just let me finish. I care about you Ino. Not like that I mean, you know what I mean okay. So does Cho. Don't ever feel like you're alone or no one loves you..because we do.. A lot. Chin up Yamanaka." Shikamaru gave her shoulder a light friendly punch, "and stop looking at me like that. It was long ago, I barely remember that so don't go acting weird around me!"

Ino couldn't help but stare at her dark haired team mate. She always knew she and Shikamaru had something special, they both knew it on some level. She never thought he actually liked her like that though… she liked him too ofcourse but it wasn't like how it was with Sasuke. It wasn't an all consuming love. It wasn't a romantic love. It was the love you feel for someone very precious to you. It was complicated. She never certainly expected him to have ever harbored a crush for her. It was strange she was so blindsided with getting Sasuke she never saw the boy who was practically next to her. She wondered how it must've felt for Shikamaru to have her constantly talk about Sasuke all the time and was hit with a pang of guilt.
"Shika..I..I'm so sorry.." Ino stuttered.
"Oh come on, don't be such a draaag. Ino this is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. It was so long ago. I'm over it. " Shikamaru sighed, "listen to me Ino. You're great girl. You're one of my best friends, we're practically family. Don't let something like that change this." He gestured between the three of them.

"What are you two muttering about eh?" Choji asked through a mouthful of food.

"Oh nothing really. Shika was just telling me how gorgeous he thinks I am." Ino replied smugly, sticking her tongue out at the dark haired ninja letting him know that things between them could never change.

"Funny, I don't remember ever calling you that." Shikamaru muttered, Ino made a face at him making him add "yeah keep making that face blondie and it'll stick. Not that it wouldn't be an improvement heh."

Choji patted his stomach as he looked between his two friends, happy that things were dealt with relatively smoothly.
_xXXXXx_

As the trio walked out of the restaurant, Ino couldn't help but feel better than she had all day. These two really were like the brothers she never had, for a minute Shikamaru's confession was throwing her in a funk- but now that she thought about it she realized how much he must've wanted to cheer her up for him to reveal such a thing to her. The thought was endearing and it made her feel lucky to have people like that in her life.

"So listen, I'll be heading to Suna tomorrow for a diplomatic mission. It's for a few weeks, nothing dangerous so don't worry." Shikamaru's words brought Ino out of her thoughts.
"Yeah right." Choji sniggered. Ino elbowed him quickly to hush him up.

"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?" Shikamaru asked frowning.

"Oh nothing at all Shika." Ino said batting her eyes, "I mean.. "diplomatic mission" isn't a very good nickname for your girlfriend." She grinned at Choji who was wearing the same expression.

"Heh..real mature guys." Shikamaru narrowed his eyes but then he sighed, "I really do have a mission though it's such a drag."

"Don't let Temari catch you saying that or we're going to have to "drag" you back in stretcher." The blue eyed kunoichi teased as she hi-fived Choji.

Shikimaru chuckled darkly and quipped, "What can I say? I guess blonde short tempered violent women are my type."

"Why you little-" Ino punched him squarely in the jaw.

_xXXXXx_

Her team mates walked her home and after a brief conversation with her mother she was about to head to her room-

"Ino, I almost forgot!" her mother picked up a small purple scroll from the dinner table, " A pale boy came looking for you in the shop. Told me to give you this."

"Huh? Who? Did he say why?" Ino wasn't expecting any letters or packages.

"Umm not really. He just asked where you were and left this… was gone before I could really say anything else." Her mother gave her an apologetic smile.

"Oh .. ok." Ino took the scroll and opened it.

Her eyes went wide and for a second, but noting her mother's worried expression she recovered quickly.
"Is everything ok dear?"
"Yeah..fine..it's nothing." Ino lied without batting an eye, "just some mission details, don't worry about it." She pecked her mother on the cheek and quickly furled up the scroll and went up to her room.

Once inside, she locked her door and crumpled to the ground. The scroll rolled open on the floor.

It was a picture drawn in ink… of her…crying under a tree. It captured her emotions better than a photograph. Just looking at it brought back the feelings of earlier today. It was a beautiful drawing no doubt, but a painful and embarrassing reminder for Ino. Under the skillful drawing was a word in a neat slanting hand, "Sadness"

Sai had seen her. Sai had drawn her.

_xXXXXx_

Thank you for reading so far. I hope this chapter wasn't too longwinded. Review? Please let me know if you think my story telling pace is too slow, Im quite new to this. Critique, comments and tips are very welcome. Will write more chapters if anyone is interested to read more